Starting Year: 2019;
Provenance: USA;
Container: Lava Pot;
Source: Yamadori.

Style: Multitrunk;
Height: 124cm;
Nebari: 20cm;
Estimated Age: Around 100 years old;

This Engelmann spruce entered the artist’s collection in July 2019, purchased from a nursery professional who had collected it earlier that same spring. Although the collector typically gathered trees for landscape purposes, he recognized the bonsai potential in this specimen and presented it with that intention. At first glance, the tree did not immediately draw attention, but trusting the collector’s eye, the artist decided to bring it home.

The spruce was allowed to rest in the nursery for more than a year while its growth and overall health were carefully observed. Its unusually thick trunk in proportion to its height suggests decades of growth on a mountainside, enduring alpine conditions that shaped its character. The subtle bend in the lower trunk and the multiple vertical trunks emerging from it further reflect the harsh environment in which it developed.

The first styling took place in the fall of 2020. The artist retained most of the stronger upright trunks to maintain the natural vertical rhythm, while one tall leader was removed to open the composition and refine the silhouette. That leader was transformed into a jin to enhance the impression of age and natural hardship. Over several sessions, the remaining branches were fully wired to convey the rugged, high-altitude feeling characteristic of Engelmann spruces in the wild.

The initial repotting occurred in May 2021, when the tree was placed into a large lava-rock container that had been modified for proper drainage. After establishing well, the tree was allowed to grow freely before receiving seasonal pinching in 2023 and 2024 to build denser, more refined foliage. A second repotting in spring 2025 further improved the root system and prepared the tree for its next stage of maturation.

Today, the artist is grateful to have accepted this tree—especially considering how easily it could have been overlooked. With its strong alpine presence, powerful trunk, and authentic natural expression, this Engelmann spruce stands as a meaningful and mature bonsai. The artist is honored to present it in Bonsaigers X, sharing its story and character with a broader audience.